Electric connecter

ABSTRACT

There is described an electric connector ( 2 ) having an insulating casing ( 4 ) defining a number of cavities housing respective electric terminals and having axes parallel to a first direction (A) in which the connector ( 2 ) is coupled to a complementary connector ( 3 ); a slide ( 16 ) fitted to the casing ( 4 ) to slide in a second direction (B) perpendicular to the first direction (A), and having first cam coupling members ( 19 ) receiving respective second coupling members ( 20 ) on the complementary connector ( 3 ) to produce a relative coupling movement between the connectors ( 2, 3 ) in the first direction (A) when the slide ( 16 ) moves in the second direction (B); releasable retaining means ( 42, 43, 45, 47, 31, 32 ) defining a fully assembled position of the slide ( 16 ) to the casing ( 4 ); and elastic means ( 35 ) generating an elastic load on the complementary connector ( 3 ) being coupled to the casing ( 4 ), so as to expel the complementary connector ( 3 ), in the event the slide ( 16 ) fails to fully engage the casing ( 4 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electric connector, andparticularly, though not exclusively, to an electric plug connectorconnectable to a complementary electric socket connector to form anelectric connecting unit with a large number of ways of the type used toconnect an electric system to an electronic central control unit.

BACKGROUND ART

Connecting units of the above type are known, whose connectors compriserespective insulating casings defining respective numbers of cavitiesfor housing mutually connectable male and female electric terminalsrespectively.

Connecting units of this type normally comprise a lever-and-slidecoupling device, which, once the plug and socket connectors are broughttogether, is operated manually to couple the connectors with very littleeffort required.

The coupling device substantially comprises a slide fitted inside theplug connector casing to slide in a direction perpendicular to thecoupling direction of the connectors; and an operating lever hinged tothe same casing and fitted to the slide.

In one fairly commonly used embodiment, the slide is C-shaped anddefined by an end wall perpendicular to the slide direction, and by twolateral walls extending perpendicularly from respective opposite endedges of the end wall, and which slide along relative lateral walls ofthe plug connector casing. Each lateral wall of the slide has a numberof cam grooves engaged by respective outer pins on the plug connector toproduce a relative engagement movement between the plug and socketconnectors in the coupling direction when the slide moves in the slidedirection.

The slide is normally retained by temporary locking means, e.g.releasable retaining members, in a preassembly position partly insertedinside the plug connector casing, and is moved into a full-insertionposition inside the casing by rotating the operating lever from a raisedto a lowered position about its hinge axis.

The lowered position of the lever, and consequently the full-insertionposition of the slide, normally corresponds to complete coupling of themale and female terminals of the two connectors.

In the event one or more terminals are assembled wrongly inside therelative casings, however, the slide and lever may still be forced intothe respective full-insertion and lowered positions, e.g. by breaking ordeforming the contacting parts; in which case, the wrongly assembledterminals may escape detection during testing, e.g. because the positionof the terminal is such as still to produce electrical contact, howeverprecarious. In applications in which the connectors are subjected tovibration, as on vehicles, however, such contact is bound to be brokeneventually, with all the obvious consequences this entails.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electricconnector designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawback typicallyassociated with known connectors, and which, at the same time, iscompact and cheap and easy to produce and assemble.

According to the present invention, there is provided an electricconnector comprising an insulating casing defining a number of cavitieshousing respective electric terminals and having axes parallel to afirst direction in which said connector is coupled to a complementaryconnector; a slide fitted to said casing to slide in a second directionperpendicular to said first direction, and having first cam couplingmembers receiving respective second coupling members on saidcomplementary connector to produce a relative coupling movement betweensaid connectors in said first direction when said slide moves in saidsecond direction; and releasable retaining means defining a fullyassembled position of said slide to said casing; characterized by alsocomprising elastic means generating an elastic load on the complementaryconnector being coupled to said casing, so as to expel the complementaryconnector, in the event said slide fails to fully engage said casing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exploded view in perspective of an electric connectingunit defined by an electric plug connector in accordance with thepresent invention, and by a complementary electric socket connector;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the FIG. 1 electric plug connector;

FIG. 3 shows a larger-scale, partly sectioned view in perspective of adetail of the electric plug connector in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the FIGS. 1 and 2 electric plug connector ina different operating position;

FIG. 5 shows a partly sectioned view in perspective of the FIG. 3 detailin the FIG. 4 operating position of the electric plug connectoraccording to the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a partly sectioned view in perspective of the FIG. 3 detailmoving into the FIG. 5 position;

FIG. 7 shows a larger-scale view in perspective of the FIG. 1 electricplug connector in a further operating position;

FIG. 8 shows a partly sectioned view in perspective of the FIG. 3 detailin the FIG. 7 operating position of the electric plug connectoraccording to the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates as a whole an electric connecting unit witha large number of ways, in particular for connecting an electroniccentral control unit (not shown) to a vehicle electric system (notshown).

Unit 1 comprises a first plug connector 2 (also shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and7) and a second socket connector 3 connectable to each other in adirection A.

Connector 2 according to the present invention comprises an insulatingcasing 4 made of plastic material and defining a number of cavities (notshown) having axes parallel to direction A and housing respective knownfemale electric terminals (not shown) fitted in known manner inside thecavities and connected to relative known electric cables (not shown).

Casing 4 comprises a hollow, substantially parallelepiped-shaped mainbody 6 defining an end opening 7, for insertion of connector 3, andfitted inside with a substantially parallelepiped-shaped block 8 forsupporting the female terminals and in which said cavities are formed.

More specifically, main body 6 is defined by two, respectively front andrear, end walls 9, 10, and by two lateral walls 11 perpendicular to endwalls 9, 10 and defining, with end walls 9, 10, opening 7 for receivingconnector 3.

Casing 4 also comprises an outer shell 12 fitted to main body 6, on theopposite side to opening 7, and through which extends the electriccables for connection to the female terminals on block 8.

Connector 3, only described herein as required for a clear understandingof the present invention, comprises a hollow, substantiallyparallelepiped-shaped insulating casing 13 conveniently formed in onepiece with the outer casing (not shown) of the electronic centralcontrol unit, and housing a number of known male electric terminals (notshown) extending parallel to direction A and connected to relative knownelectric cables (not shown). Casing 13 defines a cavity for receivingblock 8 of connector 2, and inside which project respective contactportions of the male terminals.

Unit 1 also comprises a lever-and-slide coupling device 15 for couplingconnectors 2 and 3 with a minimum amount of manual effort.

Coupling device 15 comprises a slide 16, which slides partly insidecasing 4 and is movable with respect to casing 4 in a direction Bperpendicular to direction A and to end walls 9, 10 of main body 6.Slide 16 is substantially C-shaped, and comprises an end wall 17perpendicular to direction B and located outside casing 4, facing endwall 9 of main body 6; and two lateral walls 18 extendingperpendicularly from respective opposite lateral edges of end wall 17and parallel to directions A and B. Lateral walls 18 of slide 16 fitthrough respective lateral end openings (not shown) in end wall 9, andslide between block 8 and respective opposite lateral walls 11 of mainbody 6 of casing 4.

Main body 6, block 8, and lateral walls 18 of slide 16 define a cavityfor receiving casing 13 of connector 3 and so defining a coupling regionof connector 2 to connector 3.

Each lateral wall 18 comprises a number of cam grooves 19—in the exampleshown, three (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1)—which cooperate withrespective cylindrical outer pins 20 on casing 13 to produce a relativecoupling movement between connectors 2 and 3 in direction A, when slide16 moves inwards of casing 4 in direction B.

More specifically, each groove 19 comprises a lead-in portion 21 forrelative pin 20, extending parallel to direction A and located close toopening 7; an intermediate portion 22 sloping with respect to directionsA and B; and an end portion 23 parallel to direction B and defining astop for pin 20. Grooves 19 in each lateral wall 18 are open towards theother lateral wall 18, and are closed on the opposite side by a bottomsurface.

Coupling device 15 also comprises an operating lever 24 hinged to casing4 about an axis C perpendicular to directions A and B, and connected tolateral walls 18 of slide 16 so that rotation of lever 24 about axis Cmoves slide 16 in direction B and, by virtue of pins 20 engaging grooves19, produces a relative coupling movement between connectors 2 and 3 andbetween the terminals of connectors 2 and 3 in direction A.

Lever 24 is defined by two contoured arms 25 having first end portions26 hinged externally about axis C to opposite sides of shell 12 ofcasing 4, and second end portions 27 joined by a cross member 28.

Each end portion 26 is cylindrical, of axis C, and defines, on one sideof the extension area of relative arm 25, a sector gear 29 defined, inthe example shown, by three teeth, and which engages a rack 30 alsodefined by three teeth (not all shown) and formed on an intermediateportion of an end edge of a relative lateral wall 18 of slide 16adjacent to shell 12.

To couple connectors 2 and 3, lever 24 is rotated—in a direction to movecross member 28 towards end wall 17 of slide 16 (anticlockwise in FIGS.1 and 2)—from a raised position (FIGS. 1 and 2) corresponding topredetermined withdrawal of slide 16 from casing 4, to a loweredposition secured to casing 4 (FIGS. 4 and 7) and corresponding tomaximum insertion or full assembly of lateral walls 18 of slide 16inside casing 4, and a final coupling position of connectors 2 and 3.

More specifically, the lowered position of lever 24 is defined by crossmember 28 clicking onto a releasable retaining member 31 extendingintegrally from shell 12, on the opposite side of shell 12 to thatconnected to main body 6. More specifically, retaining member 31 isdefined by an elastically flexible lance projecting from shell 12 in adirection parallel to direction B, and having, on its free end, asubstantially triangular tooth for engaging cross member 28.

An important characteristic of the present invention is that connector 2also comprises two garter springs 35 (only one shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6and 8), which are is interposed between end wall 9 of main body 6 ofcasing 4 and end wall 17 of slide 16, have respective axes parallel todirection B, and oppose the movement of slide 16 into the fullyassembled position inside casing 4. In other words, when couplingconnectors 2 and 3, springs 35 generate an elastic load on connector 3to expel connector 3 in the event slide 16 fails to fully engage casing4.

More specifically, each spring 35 is fixed at opposite ends insiderespective seats 36, 37 (FIGS. 3, 5 and 6) formed respectively in endwall 17 of slide 16, and in a stop plate 38 interposed between end wall17 and end wall 9 of main body 6 of casing 4, and secured to lateralwalls 18 of slide 16 to slide in a direction parallel to direction B.

More specifically, plate 38 is substantially rectangular, and has, onopposite sides, respective projections 39 (only one shown in FIGS. 5 and6) engaging respective rectangular slots 40 formed in lateral walls 18of slide 16 and elongated in direction B. In the absence of externalforces, springs 35 keep plate 38 in a forward position at a maximumdistance from end wall 17 of slide 16, and in which projections 39 ofplate 38 rest against respective end edges of slots 40 adjacent tocasing 6 and extending parallel to direction A.

Plate 38 has a central, substantially rectangular through opening 41,through which extend two retaining lances or members 42, 43 projectingfrom respective end walls 17, 9 of slide 16 and casing 4, and whichclick onto each other to define the fully assembled position of slide 16inside casing 4.

More specifically, retaining member 42 comprises a ramp-shaped free end44 for the purpose explained later on; and a substantially U-shapedrecess 45 interposed between end 44 and end wall 17, and open at thesides and towards shell 12. Retaining member 43 is flexible elasticallyin a direction parallel to direction A, and supports, on its free end46, a projecting pin 47, which releasably engages recess 45 of retainingmember 42 to define the fully assembled position of slide 16 (FIGS. 4and 5).

As shown clearly in FIG. 3, pin 47 of retaining member 43 is locatedalong the path of retaining member 42 towards casing 6 in direction B,so that, as slide 16 moves towards the fully assembled position, theramp-shaped end 44 of retaining member 42 defines an upward-slopingsurface, along which pin 47 of retaining member 43 slides to flexretaining member 43 towards shell 12 in direction A. Retaining member 43is restored to the undeformed configuration when, as retaining members42 and 43 slide with respect to each other as slide 16 moves inwards ofcasing 4, pin 47 eventually engages recess 45 of retaining member 42.

Along one side of the lateral edge of opening 41 facing shell 12, plate38 defines a right-angle shoulder 48, against which the end 46 ofretaining member 43 is arrested in the deformed configuration (FIG. 6),as slide 16 moves towards the fully assembled position. At this stage,retaining member 43 therefore acts as a pressure bar opposing the thrustof springs 35. Retaining member 43 is disengaged from shoulder 48 ofplate 38 as pin 47 engages recess 45 of retaining member 42, andtherefore as retaining member 43 is restored to the undeformedconfiguration.

In the fully assembled position of slide 16 (FIG. 5), plate 38, nolonger opposed by retaining member 43 (FIG. 5), is pushed by springs 35into a lock position, in which it is located adjacent to end wall 9 ofmain body 6 of casing 4, and is fitted through with both retainingmembers 42 and 43, which are thus maintained stably connected to eachother. That is, engagement of retaining members 42 and 43 inside opening41 of plate 38 prevents retaining member 43 from flexing in direction Aand so releasing pin 47 from recess 45.

Plate 38 is provided on opposite sides with two tabs 49, which projectoutwards from lateral walls 18 of slide 16, and are operated manually tomove plate 38, in opposition to springs 35, into a withdrawn position inwhich it is interposed between end wall 17 of slide 16 and recess 45,and so allows flexing of retaining member 43 in direction A to releasepin 47 from recess 45.

To assist engagement and release of pin 47 and recess 45, these areprovided, on the side facing end wall 9 of casing 4, with a lateralbevel 50 and a lead-in surface 51 respectively.

Unit 1 is assembled by bringing connectors 2 and 3 together in directionA so that pins 20 engage lead-in portions 21 of respective grooves 19,and then rotating lever 24 from the FIGS. 1 and 2 raised position to theFIG. 4 lowered position.

More specifically, as it rotates, lever 24 moves slide 16 in direction Bby sector gear 29 engaging rack 30; and the relative sliding movementbetween pins 20 and sloping intermediate portions 22 of relative grooves19 gradually couples connectors 2 and 3 in direction A.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 6, as slide 16 begins movinginwards of casing 4, pin 47 of retaining member 43 contacts and slidesalong ramp-shaped end 44 of retaining member 42, thus flexing retainingmember 43 towards shell 12 and towards the edge portion of opening 41 onwhich shoulder 48 is formed; and the flexed retaining member 43 isarrested with its free end 46 against shoulder 48 of plate 38.

As lever 24 continues rotating into the lowered position, thus graduallyengaging slide 16 inside casing 4, slide 16 slides with respect to plate38, which is locked in position and prevented from moving by retainingmember 43, so that springs 35 are compressed between the stationaryplate 38 and the end wall 17 of slide 16 moving towards casing 4.

At this stage, retaining member 42 slides in direction B along pin 47 ofretaining member 43 to bring recess 45 up to pin 47.

At this point, pin 47 clicks into recess 45, thus releasing plate 38,which is pushed by springs 35 along slots 40 in lateral walls 18 ofslide 16 into the lock position adjacent to end wall 9 of main body 6 ofcasing 4 (FIG. 5).

At the same time, connectors 2 and 3 reach the final coupling position,and lever 24 is locked in the lowered position by cross member 28clicking onto tooth 32 of retaining member 31.

In this configuration, the lateral edge of opening 41 in plate 38surrounds retaining members 42 and 43, to prevent any relative movementbetween them in direction A, and so prevent release of pin 47 fromrecess 45.

In the event of failure to rotate lever 24 fully into the loweredposition, and so insert slide 16 fully inside casing 4, springs 35expand, upon release of lever 24, to push slide 16 outwards and, byvirtue of pins 20 engaging grooves 19, expel connector 3, thus enablingimmediate detection of the anomaly by the operator.

Connectors 2 and 3 are disconnected by acting on plate 38 to move it, inopposition to springs 35, into the withdrawn position adjacent to endwall 17 of slide 16, and by simultaneously rotating lever 24 into theraised position after first releasing it from retaining member 31.

More specifically, plate 38 is moved with respect to slide 16 using tabs49. And, once plate 38 is in the withdrawn position, retaining member 43is free to flex in a direction parallel to direction A to release pin 47from recess 45 of retaining member 42, which is done by simply movinglever 24 from the lowered to the raised position, and is assisted bybevel 50 of pin 47 interacting with lead-in surface 51 of recess 45.

The advantages of connector 2 according to the present invention will beclear from the foregoing description.

In particular, when assembling unit 1, the elastic load exerted bysprings 35 on coupling device 15, and therefore on connector 3, providesfor expelling connector 3 in the event of incomplete travel of lever 24and slide 16 caused, for example, by improper assembly of one or moreterminals inside the respective cavities, thus enabling any anomaly inthe coupling of connectors 2 and 3 to be detected immediately.

Moreover, locating springs 35 outside the area of interaction betweenconnectors 2 and 3 simplifies assembly and molding of the parts to befitted one inside the other.

Finally, locating springs 35 outside casing 4, and more specificallybetween casing 4 and slide 16, reduces the overall size of connector 2by limiting the small increase in stickout of slide 16 to the area fromwhich the electric cables project.

Clearly, changes may be made to connector 2 as described herein without,however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

In particular, recess 45 and pin 47 may be associated with casing 4 andslide 16 respectively, and the elastically flexible retaining member mayextend from end wall 17 of slide 16.

1. An electric connector comprising an insulating casing defining anumber of cavities housing respective electric terminals and having axesparallel to a first direction in which said connector is coupled to acomplementary connector; a slide fitted to said casing to slide in asecond direction perpendicular to said first direction, and having firstcam coupling members receiving respective second coupling members onsaid complementary connector to produce a relative coupling movementbetween said connectors in said first direction when said slide moves insaid second direction; and releasable retaining means defining a fullyassembled position of said slide to said casing; characterized by alsocomprising elastic means generating an elastic load on the complementaryconnector being coupled to said casing, so as to expel the complementaryconnector, in the event said slide fails to fully engage said casing. 2.A connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said elasticmeans are interposed between respective facing walls of said slide andsaid casing.
 3. A connector as claimed in claim 2, characterized in thatsaid releasable retaining means comprise retaining means between saidslide and said casing, and which are activated upon said slide reachingsaid fully assembled position.
 4. A connector as claimed in claim 3,characterized in that said retaining means comprise at least one seatand a pin, which are associated with said walls and are mutually engagedin said fully assembled position of said slide; at least one of saidseat and said pin being carried by a pressure member opposing the thrustof said elastic means as said slide moves towards said fully assembledposition.
 5. A connector as claimed in claim 4, characterized in thatsaid elastic means comprise at least one elastic member varying inlength in said second direction and fixed between one of said walls anda movable member interposed between said walls and connected to saidslide to slide in said second direction; and in that said pressuremember is carried by the other of said walls, and cooperates with saidmovable member to counteract the thrust of said elastic member as saidslide moves towards said fully assembled position.
 6. A connector asclaimed in claim 5, characterized in that said pressure member comprisesan elastically flexible lance projecting from said other of said wallsin said second direction, and movable, as said slide moves towards saidfully assembled position, between a deformed configuration, in which itcooperates with said movable member to counteract the thrust of saidelastic member, and an undeformed configuration, in which it releasessaid movable member, and which is produced by said pin engaging saidseat.
 7. A connector as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that, insaid fully assembled position of said slide, said movable member ismaintained by said elastic member in a lock position preventingdeformation of said elastically flexible lance and release of said pinfrom said seat; said movable member being movable, in opposition to saidelastic member, into an enabling position enabling flexing of saidelastically flexible lance and release of said pin from said seat.
 8. Aconnector as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said pin projectsfrom a free end of said elastically flexible lance; and in that saidseat comprises a recess formed on a further lance projecting in saidsecond direction from said one of said walls, cooperating in slidingmanner with said elastically flexible lance as said slide moves towardssaid fully assembled position, and having a ramp-shaped free end forflexing said elastically flexible lance.
 9. A connector as claimed inclaim 8, characterized in that said movable member comprises a plateparallel to said walls, having an opening engageable by said lances, anddefining, along one side of the lateral edge of said opening, a shoulderagainst which said elastically flexible lance rests in said deformedconfiguration.
 10. A connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized inthat said casing comprises a hollow body for connection to saidcomplementary connector; and in that said slide is at least partlyengaged inside said hollow body to slide in said second direction; saidwalls being defined by respective end walls, perpendicular to saidsecond direction, of said slide and said hollow body.
 11. A connector asclaimed in claim 10, characterized in that said slide is substantiallyC-shaped, and comprises two lateral walls, which extend perpendicularlyfrom the end wall of the slide, slide through said end wall of saidhollow body, have said first cam coupling members, and have respectiveslots elongated in said second direction and engaged in sliding mannerby respective lateral portions of said movable member.